Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’”And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Luke 18:1-8

“Jesus told them this parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart …’

When we try to use earthly examples to illustrate godly principles and concepts, sometimes the message gets a little confused. I think I fall into that pit with this parable. A first reading seems to indicate that we should pester God, and we will get whatever we want. (“Because this widow keeps bothering me I will give her the justice I wanted to withhold. “)

But God is not an unjust judge. (To the contrary.) And God wants to answer our prayers for justice. So, God is so much better than this pitiful example of a judge. And God will go so much further in granting justice as we appeal in our prayers. Keep praying for the right and just outcomes. God is listening.

Prayer

Dear God, as I speak to You in prayer, let me remember that You are listening. Help my prayers to focus on what is true, and good, and right, as I wait for Your answer through the grace of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in whose name I pray. Amen.

 

~Steve Negley